The 3-year-old came to the nation’s attention after his mother Louise contacted RTE’s Liveline programme pleading for the Minister for Health to get him home for Christmas.

However medics finally released Liam this afternoon, and he will travel home to Galway where he will spend another few weeks in hospital, before hopefully being released to go home.

Lousise once again spoke to Joe Duffy on RTE Radio One this afternoon to update listeners.

Despite not having Liam home, she said the family had their best Christmas since Liam was born.

“Liam hasn’t spent it anywhere else and he doesn’t know nay different, but it worked out brilliantly for us. We were able to come down and visit him and be with him all day, it was the best Christmas we had in years.

She said she that although he doesn’t understand what’s happening, he know something special is going on as he returns home.

“He doesn’t realise but he knows there’s something very special going on, he’s in great form. He knows something’s going on but he doesn’t really understand it.”

He will spend his first few weeks at home in hospital before being released to go home.

“It will take a few weeks for them (the staff) to come in and meet him and get to know him. Hopefully by the end of the month we’ll be home home, and we can’t wait.”

Liam has undergone 15 life-saving operations since he was born, weighing just one pound.

He requires round-the-clock care because he suffers from chronic lung disease, and he is fed through a tube.